146. Turning Theme Park Travel Into A Luxury Experience with Lauren Quirk

Get ready for a fun and inspiring conversation with Lauren Quirk, Founder of Travel With Character®! Lauren is proof that theme park travel can be just as chic, seamless, and story-driven as a luxury FIT trip. From hand-picking resorts and tickets to crafting VIP tours and personalized itineraries, she and her team sprinkle creativity, precision, and a little magic into every detail. With her bubbly personality and entertainment background, Lauren shares how she went from Broadway stages to building a thriving agency. She talks about why she recently transitioned from independent contractors to an employee model, why charging planning fees is a must, and how she blends personality-packed social media with polished systems to create unforgettable client experiences. Ready to see theme park travel in a whole new light? This episode is packed with ideas, laughs, and a dose of Lauren’s contagious enthusiasm.   About Lauren Quirk: Lauren is the Founder of Travel With Character®, a backstage production team for designing luxury family vacations. Over the past six years she has assembled a small team of creative women who guide today's discerning travelers who value personalized and attentive service over DIY booking methods. Lauren's education and background are in the performing arts, with a history on the off-Broadway stages of New York, and LA productions like "Grease Live! On Fox", and Comedy Central sketches. She now translates this creativity and storytelling into her travel business, crafting unique experiences for every client, helping them to embrace their own "main character energy." Lauren's innovative approach to travel industry marketing has not gone unnoticed. She has been a Travel Weekly Gold Magellan award recipient and a finalist in TravelAge West's Trendsetter Awards, celebrating her social media content. Her unique marketing signature includes creating comedic musical pieces related to travel, engaging audiences and inviting them into a world of exploration and enjoyment.   @travelwithcharacter  travelwithcharacter.com     Today we will cover:  (03:00) The story behind Travel With Character® and Lauren’s journey from Broadway to travel  (06:45) Why Lauren transitioned from independent contractors to employees for stronger brand consistency  (12:20) Best tools and software for planning Disney and theme park vacations  (18:45) Charging planning fees and demonstrating the value of professional expertise  (23:35) Offering concierge-level Disney services including Lightning Lanes and dining reservations  (28:35) Streamlining workflows to deliver a polished and seamless client experience  (31:45) How to collect client testimonials and Google reviews that build trust  (41:05) Expanding from theme park travel to international destinations  (44:50) Creating engaging social media content with musical parodies for marketing  (47:15) Lauren’s top advice for travel advisors: confidence, systems, and preparation           JOIN THE NICHE COMMUNITY   VISIT THE TEMPLATE SHOP   EXPLORE THE PROGRAMS   FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM @TiqueHQ         Thanks to Our Tique Talks Sponsors: Moxie & Fourth - Get $30 off the List Launch Kit with code PODCAST